Dry cell



H. DE'. OLAN ETA DRY CELL Filed June 18 Patented oef. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.;

HAROLD D E OLANETA, 0F N'EW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, AASASIGNOR T0 WINCHESTER RE- PEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION! OF CONNECTICUT.

DRY CELL.

Appueauen mee :rune 1s, 1920. serial No. 390,022.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD DE vOLANETA, a citizen of the United States, residing in New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry Cells, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to dry cells, and while not limited in its application to that purpose, itis primarily intended' for em'- ployment in connection with small dry cells ysuch as used With electric iash lights.

The invention pertains more' especially to the closure at the upper end ofthe dry cell cup.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provlsion of a simple, inexpensive, eliicient and easily assembled end closure construction for dry cells.

Another object is to furnish improved vmeans for positioning and securing within the mouth portion of the cup a dfsk or plug of insulating material formed prior to its insertion into the cup. Y v

Another purpose which I have in view is the provision of a dry cell having effective means for preventing either inward or outward displacement of the end closure member, there being also suitable provision for the harmless disposal of the gas generated in the cell.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section of a dry cell embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of a cell of somewhat modified form;

Figs. 3 and 4 show other modifications;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the end plugshown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged'scale, of certain parts shown in Fig. 3.

I have shown my improvements applied to a small dry cell of the type commonly employed in connection with pocket Hash lights. The cell comprises a drawn zinc cup 10, forming one of the electrodes. Within the cup is a cartridge 11 of suitable depolafrizing` material surrounding and adhering to a car- `fibre composition is used, a disk of app bon electrode. The cartridge 11 is of less height than the cup and is usually enclosed in a porous wrapper or envelope 13. The .body of paste 14 interposed between the side surface of the cartridge and the side wall. of the cup serves as a carrier or vehicle for the. electrolyte. A suitable centering device 15 is preferably .employed for centering the .cartridge within the bottom portion of the zinc cup.

In the form shown inFig. 1, a flat washer 16 of paper impregnated with paraffin is laid onl top of the cartridge 11, said washer havlng an' opening whereby it may be tted over the upwardly projecting end of the electrode 12. Above the Washer 16 the wall of the zinc cup is displaced in an inward direction, for

pencil 12, which serves as the other example, by means of a continuous annularv crimp or groove 17 that may be readily formed by spinning. The groove is created on the outer surface of the cup and the cor-i, responding annular shoulder or bead projects within the cup at some distance above `the washer 16 in order to forma seatffor a second washer 18. This second washer may be of the saliceI material as the first, but in the form shown it is of special shape as described more particularly in my application Serial No. 368,324, being cupped at the center so as to provide a downwardly bulged portion 18a that abuts against the upper surface ofwasher 16 around the central elec-v trode. On top of the washer 18 is a preformed end closure member 19, consisting of a plug or disk of suitable insulating ma.- terial such, forexarnple, as insulating fibre, rubber or the like. Preferably an insulating ropriate size being cut 'from a sheet of the desired thickness and perforated centrally so that the central perforation will fit nice-ly over the central electrode 12. The insulating libre disk rests upon and is supported by the peripheral portion of the washer 18.

'at 20, by means of a suitable spinning roller or the like, and preferably also the spinninfr operation will be so carried out orthe metall retained.

otherwise bent or shaped that the edge portion of the cup is turned reversely so that the extreme edge will be direc-ted substan tially in the reverse direction and will bite or tend to bite into the upper surface of the disk 19, as shown more particularly in Fig. 6, where a similar construction is employed. The disk 19 being made of yielding material, the reversely turned edge of the zinc cup bites into or is imbedded in the same. to a certain extent. The result is the provision of a very neat joint which is very tight and secure. The spinning of the edge of the zinc cup so that the same will be turned re versely in this manner may be producedby suitable profiling or grooving of a spinning roller or other tool, By this spinning or similar operation` the upper edge portion of the cup is rounded so that the upwardly facing portion thereof is formed on an easy curve or fillet, the efi'ec't being to increase the thickness of the edge of the cup as well as to round it and to eliminate all sharp edges projecting upwardly or tending to do so. The finish of the cell is very neat, the cup edge is reinforced, and the upper end portion of the cell may be handled more comfortably than heretofore, owing to the absence of sharp projecting metal at the upper periphery of the cup.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the fibre disk and the cupped washer 18 are both tightly held in place between the annular inwardly projecting shoulder (formed by spinning the groove or the like) and the lapped over portion 20. The cupped washer 18, as will be noted, holds the cartridge within the cup in a certainv position and maintains a gas space 21 in which the gases generated by electric or thermic action or poti may be received and disposed of harmess y.

On top of the carbon electrode is the usual contact cap 22. This may be placed on the electrode after the assembling of the other parts.

The form shown in Fig. 2 is the same as that illustrated in Fig. 1, with the eXception that the paper washer .A16 is omitted.'

In this instance the cupped washer 18 labuts directly against the upper surface of the cartridge 11.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the cupped washer 18 is omitted, but the washer 16 is In this case the end desk 19a is directly lconfined at its lower part by the inwardly directed spun shoulder. The washer 16 may be forced inwardly past the shoulder, or the groove creating the shoulder may be formed after the introduction of the paper lwasher. In the case illustra-ted in yFig. 3, the frictional contacty between the edge of the paper washer and the wall of the zinc cup is relied upon to hold the cartridge in place and to maintain the gas per and lower disks is crimped at 17 after y -f the disks have been inserted into the cup.

By my invention, a very neat, smooth joint is provided at the upper edge of the y cup. It is not necessary in all cases, however, to have the edge of the cup reversely turned so as to bite into the closure disk as herein particularly described. Variation may be made in this and other respects wit-hout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

In all of the cases illustrated, I employ an end closure member which is shaped prior to its introduction into the cup and which does not undergo any substantial deformation when the same is locked within the mouth of the cup. It is preferred to have a bend in the cup wall beneath the end closure member to prevent it from being forced inwardly, so that this function will be performed by the cup wall or, at any rate, by a part other than the cartridge, to thereby prevent crushing or deformation of the cartridge as a result of pressure eX- erted from the outside against the end plug or disk. It is also desirable to lap the metal at the edge of the cup over-the upper surface of the disk as herein described. This disk is securely locked in place by integral securing means on the cup wall located above and below the disk, respectively, which does away with the necessity of deforming the disk when locking it in place. It is also preferred, as stated, to spin the edge of the cup so as to cause it to bite into the disk, but this is not essential in all cases.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, there is provided in combination with the end closure disk or plug, a special member which spaces the cartridge from the disk independently of the annular shoulder 17, whichv may be omitted so far as certain aspects of the invention are concerned; but in the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the shoulder 17 or its equivalent is relied upon to space the upper and lower disklike members apart and thereby maintain a chamber for the accommodatlo-n of the gas evolved in the cell.

I do not claim broadlyherein a dry Cell of the Leclanche type comprising a sheet metal cup, a cartridge therein of less height than the cup having an upwardly projecting carbon pencil as a part thereof, a body of paste interposed between the side surface of the lcartridge and the side wall of the cup and extending approximately to the level of the upper cartridge surface, and a preian plication Serial No. 368,324; nor do I Acated within the mouth portion of the cup and having an opening therein, and an electrodepencll engaging said opening for centering said pencil in the cup, said disk and theV other cell arranged to present a gas chamber beneath and adjacent to the lower face of the disk, as claimed in my application, Serial N0. 379,516; nor do I claim herein a thin endclosure-supporting member in the mouth of the cup, perforated to fit about the upper end of the central electrode and having a downwardly bulged portion supported on top of the cartridge, .as claimed in my apclaim broadly herein a preformed insulating diskl locked in the mouth of the cup at some distance above the cartridge to provide a gas space, as claimed in my application Serial No. 390,019.

Wha-t I claim is: 1. A dry cell, having a sheet metal cu and a reformed end closure disk over whicli the le ge of the cup at the mouth portion thereof is lapped.

2. A dry cell, having a sheet metal cup, a disk inserted in the end of the same and over which the. edge portion of the cup is lapper, a cartridge within the cup having an electrode projectingthrough said disk, and means independent of the cartridge for preventing inward displacement of the disk.

3. A dry cell, having a sheet metal cup with an annular shoulder spun therein and an electrode centering end closure member supported from beneath by said shoulder.

4. A dry cell, having a sheet metal cup, the wall of which is displaced inwardly at a point near, but not at, the eXtreme edge portion of the cup, and a perforated electrode centering closure member supported above the inwardly displaced portion of the wall.

5. A dry cell, having a sheet metal cup, the wall of which is displaced inwardly at a pointnear, but not at, the extreme edge p0rtion of the cup, al closure member supported on the inwardly displaced portion of the wall, and means for preventing outward displacement of said closure member.

6. A dry cell, having a sheet metal cup, the wall of which is displaced inwardly at a point near, but not at, the extreme edge portion of the cup, a perforated electrode centering closure member-supported on the inwardly displaced portion of the wall, and

means consisting parts being constructed and means for preventing outward displacement of said closure member, said last named of a rounded edge portion at the extreme edge of the cup mouth overlying said closure member.

. 7. A dry cell, having a thin zinc cup with v a. preformed end disk inserted within the mouth thereof, the metal cup being spun laterally lso as to extend somewhat over the upper face of the disk.

at the edge of the 8. A dry cell, havlng a me-tal cupand a.

closure member in the mouth of the against which the edge of the cup versel turned. A

9. f dry cell, having a thin metal cup and a yielding preformed insulatingdisk in the mouth of the cup, the edge portion of the cup being turned inwardly imbedded in said'disk.

10. A dry cell, having a sheet metal cup with an 'annular inwardly projecting bead within the wall thereof and a closure member positioned above said bead.

11. A dry cell, having a sheet metal cup with an inwardly directed liange at the upper edge, an inwardly projecting bead below the flange, and closure means positioned between the flange and the bead.

12. A dry cell, having a sheet metalA cup with an inwardly` directed flange at the uppe-r edge, an inwardly projecting bead below the flange, and closure means positioned between the flange and the bead,the flange being reversely turned at its extremity.-

13. A dry cell, having a sheet metal receptacle in the mouth of which spaced disklike members are positioned, the metal of the receptacle wall being displaced inwardly between said members 14. In a dry cell, a cup, a cartridge therein having an upwardly projecting electrode, an end disk in the hmouth of the cup for closing the same, and a separate member interposed between the end disk and the cartridge formaintaining a gas space in the upper ortion of the cell.

15. n a dry cell, a cup, a cartridge therein having an upwardly projecting electrode, an end disk in the mouth of the cup for closing the same, and a se arate washer interposed between the end disk and the cartridge for maintaining a gas space in the upper portion of the cel f 16. In a dry cell, a cup, a cartridge therein having an upwardly projecting electrode, an end disk in the mouth of the cup for closing the same, a separate washer interposed between the end disk and the cartridge for maintaining a gas space in the upper portion of the cell, and means for locking the end disk and washer against displacement.

17. In a dry cell,a sheet metal cup, a c artridge therein having an upwardly projecting electrode, a preformed disk inserted inthe mouth of the cup at some distance above Cup 1S rejand reversely and.

` the top of the cartridge so as to create a gas space, and a crimped portion in the cup wall intermediate the disk and cartridge.

18. In a dry cell, a sheet metal cup, a cartridge therein having an upwardly projecting electrode, a preformed disk inserted in the mouth of the cup at some distance above the top of the cartridge so as 'to create a gas space, and a crimped portion in the cup wall intermediate the disk and cartridge, adapted to prevent inward displacement of the disk. l

19. ln a dry cell, a sheet metal cup, a cartridge therein of less height than the cup, having an upwardly projecting electrode, a preformed disk surrounding the upper portion of the electrode within the mouth of the cup substantially above the upper surface of the cartridge, a washer resting against the upper surface of the cartridge, and a,

bodyof paste yieldably confined by the washer, the wall of the cup being indented beneath the disk and above the washer and there being a gas space between the disk and washer.

20. In a dry cell, a cup, a cartridge therein having an upwardly projecting pencil, a body of paste surrounding the cartridge and extending approximately to the upper end thereof, a yielding washer supported on top of the cartridge and overlying the paste, a preformed end disk in the mouthof the cup for closing the same, the wall of the cup having an inwardly projectin bead on which said disk is supported, sai bead being located between the disk and the washer, and means for preventing outward displacement of the disk, said disk provided with an opening for centering the cartridge penci 21. A dry cell having a thin zinc cup with a preformed disk inserted within the mouth thereof, the metal at the edge of the cup being thickened.

22. A dry cell having a thin zinc cup with a preformed disk inserted within the mouth thereof, the metal at the edge of the cup being thickened and rounded.

23. A dry cell having a thin zinc cup with a preformed disk inserted within the mouth thereof, the metal at the ed e of the cup being thickened and rounde and overlying the upper face of said disk to prevent displacement thereof.

24. A dry cell having a thin zinc cup with a preformed disk inserted within the mouth thereof, the metal at the ed e of the cup being thickened and rounde and overlying the upper face of'said disk to prevent dislacement thereof, and the wall of said cup iiaving an inwardly projecting bead immediately beneath said disk to support the same from below.

25. A dry cell having a thin zinc cup, a cartridge in the cup with an upwardly projecting pencil, a body of paste interposed between the side surface of the cartridge and the side wall of the cup and extending approximately to the level of the upper surface of the cartridge, and a preformed closure disk of insulating material inserted within the mouth portion of the cup and having a centering opening fitting over said pencil, the metal at the upper part of the cup being displaced so as to extend over the peripheral upper and lower surfaces of the disk and thereby prevent displacement of said disk.

26. A dry cell having a thin zinc cup, a cartridge in the cup with an upwardly projecting pencil, a body of paste interposed between the side surface of the cartridge and the side wall of the cup and extending approximately to. the level of the upper surface of the cartridge, and a preformed closure disk of insulating material inserted within the mouth portion'of the cup, and having a centering opening fitting over said pencil, the metal at the upper part of the cup being displaced so as to extend over the peripheral upper and lower surfaces of the disk and thereby prevent displacement of said disk, the lower surface of the disk being spaced upwardly from the top of the cartridge body to provide a gas space.

27. A dry cell having a sheet metal cup with upper and lower spaced disklike members positioned within the mouth portion thereof, the metal of the cup wall being displaced inwardly between said members to preserve the spacmg thereof, a cartridge in the cup having a pencil projecting upwardly through said members, and a body of paste interposed between the cartridge and the side wall of the cup.

28. A dry cell having a thin metal cup and a preformed insulating disk in the mouth of the cup for centering an outwardly projecting electrode, the edge portion of the cup being thickened and rounded and reversely turned.

29. A zinc cup for a dry cell having a thickened and rounded inturned edge.

30. A dry cell having a thin zinc cup with closure means within the mouth thereof, the metal at the edge of the cup being thickened and rounded and overlying the closure means. l

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on the 16th day of June, 1920.

HAROLD DE OLANETA. 

